Recall for Peanut Butter Expanded

The California Department of Public Health has issued an expanded alert regarding products containing peanut butter.

SACRAMENTO – Peanut butter cookies and cookie dough that have been distributed by fundraisers at 162 public and private schools in California are the latest addition to a national recall of products potentially tainted with a strain of Salmonella, a harmful bacteria. The products were produced by Dough-To-Go, Inc., of Santa Clara and distributed in 30 California counties.

On January 23 the U.S. Food and Drug Administration published a list of numerous voluntary recalls of products sold by a wide range of retailers, including Walmart, Jenny Craig, Trader Joes’s and more.

Product recalls now include some pet food products that contain peanut paste that was made by Peanut Corporation of America (PCA) at its Blakely, Georgia processing plant.

While the risk of animals contracting salmonellosis is minimal, the FDA said, there is risk to humans from handling these products. It is important for people to wash their hands—and make sure children wash their hands—before and, especially, after feeding treats to pets, the release said.

Major national brands of jarred peanut butter found in grocery stores are not affected by the PCA recall.

More than 400 products containing peanut butter or peanut butter paste have been recalled nationwide..

According to the FDA website, some notable products on the recall list include:

For information on products containing peanut butter from companies not reporting recalls, consumers may wish to consult the company’s website or call the toll-free number listed on most packaging.

If consumers cannot determine if their products contain PCA peanut butter/peanut paste, do not consume those products.

Persons who think they may have become ill from eating peanut butter are advised to consult their health care providers immediately.

For the latest information on the outbreak and the epidemiological investigation, including number of illnesses and a list of states reporting illnesses, go to the CDC web page at www.cdc.gov/salmonella/typhimurium.

On Wednesday, Jan. 28, Dr. Mark Horton, director of the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), warned consumers not to eat or handle the Dough-To-Go product.

Dough-To-Go produced frozen peanut butter cookies and frozen peanut butter cookie dough under the Dough-To-Go and Jane Dough labels. The affected products were sold by fundraiser groups between August of 2008 and January 16 of this year.

No illnesses associated with Dough-To-Go peanut butter cookie dough have been reported.

Salmonella bacteria can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal cramps. Consumers with the above symptoms should consult their physician.

Consumers with these products are advised to dispose of them. For a current list of products affected by the nationwide recall of impacted products, visit www.fda.gov.